Teaching Excellence Award Winners: Outstanding teaching is an integral part of Mason’s mission and is deserving of significant recognition. The Teaching Excellence Awards are both institutional recognition and a monetary acknowledgment of the significant work that faculty members devote to course planning and preparation; support of student engagement and learning; curriculum development; and innovative teaching, advising, and undergraduate and graduate mentoring.
The Stearns Center collects nominations from students and faculty across Mason; faculty committees comprising former honorees selected this year’s teachers in three categories:
- Teaching Excellence Awards, open to full-time faculty of any status/rank
- Adjunct Teaching Excellence Awards, open to adjunct faculty
- Online Teaching Excellence Awards, open to faculty who have taught 100% online courses
Teachers of Distinction: Our Teachers of Distinction are faculty members who have been finalists for a Teaching Excellence Award, and who are recognized across campus for their exceptional teaching and their commitment to teaching-related activities.
Distinguished Library Faculty Award Winners are selected by a committee of their peers, and honored each year alongside our other excellent teachers.
To nominate a faculty member for the 2025 Awards, please complete our online nominations form when it opens.
All Mason community members
are invited to join us at our
2023 Celebration of Teaching Excellence
Monday April 15, 2024, 3:30 pm, Dewberry Hall
Reception follows the ceremony, 4:30-5:30
2024 David J. King Award Winner
 | Adam Winsler | Psychology – CHSS | Coming Soon |
2024 Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Michele Greet | History and Art History, CHSS | Self Portrait Assignment |
 | Hao Jing | Chemistry and Biochemistry, COS | Engagement through a Relaxed Environment |
 | Rebecca Jones, Special Recognition in Teaching Mason Core | Chemistry and Biochemistry, COS | Developing Scientific Communication with Chemistry Infographics |
 | Jim McNeil, Special Recognition in Teaching with High Impact Practices | COS – Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation | Ticks and Lyme Disease |
 | Elizabeth Paul, Special Recognition in Inclusive Teaching | English, CHSS | Alernative Assessment |
 | Kimberly Rule | Forensic Science, COS | Engaging Students Through Hands-on Active Learning |
 | Kelly Schrum | Higher Education, CHSS | Productive Failure Assignment And Cultivating Creativity: Create a Better Mascot |
2024 Teachers of Distinction Award Winners
 | Melissa Ainsworth | Special Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Jennifer Drake Patrick | Elementary, Literacy, and Secondary Education, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Jodi Duke | Special Education and DisAbility Research, CEHD | …Coming Soon! |
 | Thomas LaToza | Computer Science, CEC, School of Computing | Enabling Students To Learn How To Learn |
 | Lisa Rabin | Modern and Classical Languages, CHSS | Teaching Research Approaches in Cultural Studies |
2024 Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award Winner
 | Sarah Rich | Advanced Professional Teacher Development and International Education, CEHD | ____ | …Coming Soon! |
2024 Adjunct Teacher of Distinction Winner
 | Lee H. Roberts | Center for Security Policy Studies – Schar | ____ | Five Needs of International Security Students |
2024 Online Teaching Excellence Award Winners
 | Albert DeFazio | English, CHSS | ;____ | Coming soon! |
 | Lisa Prodywus | Marketing, CCB | ;____ | Coming soon! |
2024 Online Teachers of Distinction Winners
 | Lisa M. Gring-Pemble | Business, CCB | ____ | Coming soon! |
 | Lois A. Groth | Elementary Education PK-6, CEHD | ____ | Coming soon! |
 | So Young Yi | Modern and Classical Languages, CHSS | ____ | Coming soon! |
2024 Distinguished Library Faculty Award Winner
 | Lara Bushallow | Director, Digital Technologies and Services, University Libraries | ____ |
